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Effectiveness of an Educational Intervention with Guidelines from the Total Acceleration of Postoperative Recovery Project (ACERTO) in Gynecology

Efetividade de uma intervenção educativa com diretrizes do projeto Aceleração da Recuperação Total Pós-operatória (ACERTO) na ginecologia

Abstract

Objective

To evaluate the effectiveness of an educational intervention among gynecologists about recommendations of the Total Acceleration of Postoperative Recovery (ACERTO, in the Portuguese acronym) project derived from the solid foundations of Enhanced Recovery After Surgery (ERAS) guidelines to optimize hospital care for surgical-gynecological patients.

Methods

Educational intervention through monthly 1-hour long meetings (3 months), with the application of an objective questionnaire about specific knowledge of the ACERTO project between before and after educational intervention phases, for gynecologists, after approval by the ethics committee and signature of informed consent by participants, in a federal university hospital.

Results

Among the 25 gynecologists who agreed to participate, the educational intervention could be effective with a statistically significant difference between the phases before and after the intervention for the main recommendations of the ACERTO project, such as abbreviation of preoperative fasting (p = 0.006), venous thromboembolism prophylaxis (p = 0.024), knowledge and replication of ACERTO (p = 0.034), and multimodal analgesia (p = 0.021).

Conclusion

An educational intervention, through clinical meetings with exposition and discussion of the recommendations of the ACERTO project based on the ERAS protocol can be effective for the knowledge and possibility of practical application of the main measures, such as abbreviation of preoperative fasting, multimodal analgesia, and prophylaxis of thrombosis among gynecologists.

Keywords
preoperative care; perioperative care; surgical procedures in gynecology; enhanced recovery after surgery

Resumo

Objetivo

Avaliar a efetividade de uma intervenção educativa entre ginecologistas de um hospital universitário a fim de capacitar o conhecimento científico das recomendações do projeto Aceleração da Recuperação Total Pós-operatória ACERTO, derivado das bases sólidas do protocolo Enhanced Recovery After Surgery (ERAS) para otimizar a assistência hospitalar de pacientes cirúrgico-ginecológicas.

Métodos

Intervenção educativa por meio de reuniões mensais por 3 meses, com duração de 1 hora, com aplicação de questionário objetivo com questões de conhecimentos específicos do projeto ACERTO com fases antes e depois da intervenção, para profissionais ginecologistas, após aprovação do comitê de ética em pesquisas (CEP) e assinatura do termo de consentimento livre e esclarecido (TCLE) pelos participantes.

Resultados

Dentre os 25 ginecologistas que aceitaram participar, a intervenção educativa se mostrou eficaz com diferença estatisticamente significante entre as fases antes e depois da intervenção para as principais recomendações do projeto ACERTO, como abreviação de jejum pré-operatório (p = 0.006), profilaxia de tromboembolismo venoso (p = 0.024), conhecimento e replicação do conhecimento do ACERTO (p = 0.006) e analgesia multimodal (p = 0.006).

Conclusão

Uma intervenção educativa, por meio de reuniões clínicas com exposição e discussão das recomendações do projeto ACERTO baseadas em evidências e derivadas do ERAS é eficaz para o conhecimento e possibilidade de aplicação prática de medidas como abreviação de jejum pré-operatório, analgesia multimodal e profilaxia de trombose entre ginecologistas.

Palavras-chave
cuidados pré-operatórios; cuidados perioperatórios; procedimentos cirúrgicos em ginecologia; recuperação melhorada após a cirurgia

Introduction

The Acceleration of Total Postoperative Recovery (ACERTO) project is a program that aims to optimize the postoperative recovery time in patients who undergo surgical procedures.11 Aguilar-Nascimento JE. Hit: accelerating full postoperative recovery / José Eduardo de Aguilar- Nascimento; co-editors Alberto Bicudo Salomão, Cervantes Caporossi- 4th ed. Rio de Janeiro: Editora Rubio; 2020, Publisher: RUBIO. ISBN: 9788584111336 The program brings together pre, intra, and postoperative measures that favor the surgical outcome in several areas such as abdominal, bariatric, pediatric, orthopedic, and also in the gynecological area. Derived from the solid foundations of the Enhanced Recovery After Surgery (ERAS), the ACERTO project, in Brazil and other Latin American countries, prioritizes evidence-based medicine in addition to being an educational program.11 Aguilar-Nascimento JE. Hit: accelerating full postoperative recovery / José Eduardo de Aguilar- Nascimento; co-editors Alberto Bicudo Salomão, Cervantes Caporossi- 4th ed. Rio de Janeiro: Editora Rubio; 2020, Publisher: RUBIO. ISBN: 978858411133633 Carter-Brooks CM, Du AL, Ruppert KM, Romanova AL, Zyczynski HM. Implementation of a urogynecology-specific enhanced recovery after surgery (ERAS) pathway. Am J Obstet Gynecol. 2018; 219(05):495.e1-495.e10https://www.ajog.org/article/S0002-9378(18)30496-4/abstract cited 2020Dec12 [Internet]
https://www.ajog.org/article/S0002-9378(...

Currently, several medical societies, including the International Federation of Gynecology and Obstetrics (FIGO),44 Glaser G, Dowdy SC, Peedicayil A. Enhanced recovery after surgery in gynecologic oncology. Int J Gynaecol Obstet. 2018; 143(Suppl 2):143-146. Doi: 10.1002/ijgo.12622
https://doi.org/10.1002/ijgo.12622...
American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists (ACOG),55 ACOG writing group. Enhanced Recovery After Surgery [Internet]. 2018 [cited 2020 Dec 12]. Available from: https://www.acog.org/en/Clinical/ClinicalGuidance/CommitteeOpinion/Articles/2018/09/Perioperative Pathways Enhanced Recovery After Surgery
https://www.acog.org/en/Clinical/Clinica...
the European Society for Clinical Nutrition and Metabolism (ESPEN),66 Weimann A, Braga M, Carli F, Higashiguchi T, Hübner M, Klek S, et al. ESPEN guideline: Clinical nutrition in surgery. Clin Nutr. 2017;36(03):623-650. Doi: 10.1016/j.clnu.2017.02.013
https://doi.org/10.1016/j.clnu.2017.02.0...
and the Brazilian Federation of Gynecology and Obstetrics (FEBRASGO),77 Santiago AE, Silva Filho AL, Cândido EB, Ribeiro PA, Rosa e Silva JC, Primo WQ, et al. FEBRASGO POSITION STATEMENT Perioperative management in gynecological surgery based on the ERAS program. Available at www.febrasgo.org. Accessed on March 12, 2022
www.febrasgo.org...
among others, are engaged in the development of clinical guidelines and protocols that improve the quality of perioperative care through ERAS. Mastery of the surgical technique is important; however, perioperative care favors positive surgical results, in addition to maximizing recovery, minimizing unpleasant symptoms such as pain, reducing complications such as thrombosis, and decreasing hospitalization time and hospital costs.11 Aguilar-Nascimento JE. Hit: accelerating full postoperative recovery / José Eduardo de Aguilar- Nascimento; co-editors Alberto Bicudo Salomão, Cervantes Caporossi- 4th ed. Rio de Janeiro: Editora Rubio; 2020, Publisher: RUBIO. ISBN: 978858411133677 Santiago AE, Silva Filho AL, Cândido EB, Ribeiro PA, Rosa e Silva JC, Primo WQ, et al. FEBRASGO POSITION STATEMENT Perioperative management in gynecological surgery based on the ERAS program. Available at www.febrasgo.org. Accessed on March 12, 2022
www.febrasgo.org...

The term ACERTO was an acronym developed in Latin America for ERAS with the purpose of favoring the understanding and adherence of the ERAS recommendations with local adaptations.11 Aguilar-Nascimento JE. Hit: accelerating full postoperative recovery / José Eduardo de Aguilar- Nascimento; co-editors Alberto Bicudo Salomão, Cervantes Caporossi- 4th ed. Rio de Janeiro: Editora Rubio; 2020, Publisher: RUBIO. ISBN: 9788584111336 The ACERTO project, just like ERAS guidelines, focuses on clear information to the patient about the surgery, abbreviation of preoperative fasting, early postsurgical patient ambulation, thrombosis prophylaxis, early oral refeeding, optimization of the use of drains and probes to avoid unnecessary use, hyperhydration prevention, and facilitatation of analgesia to stimulate the recovery of patients undergoing surgical treatment.11 Aguilar-Nascimento JE. Hit: accelerating full postoperative recovery / José Eduardo de Aguilar- Nascimento; co-editors Alberto Bicudo Salomão, Cervantes Caporossi- 4th ed. Rio de Janeiro: Editora Rubio; 2020, Publisher: RUBIO. ISBN: 978858411133677 Santiago AE, Silva Filho AL, Cândido EB, Ribeiro PA, Rosa e Silva JC, Primo WQ, et al. FEBRASGO POSITION STATEMENT Perioperative management in gynecological surgery based on the ERAS program. Available at www.febrasgo.org. Accessed on March 12, 2022
www.febrasgo.org...

Despite the scientific support of the ACERTO Project's recommendations, few hospitals or services apply its guidelines in practice due to lack of knowledge and adherence of health professionals. Given this scenario, the objective of the present study was to evaluate the effectiveness of an educational intervention in the gynecology department of a university hospital on the main recommendations of the ACERTO project to foster the knowledge and adherence of professionals in the practical applicability of standardized measures, such as the abbreviation of the preoperative fasting, prophylaxis for thromboembolic events, and multimodal and humanized analgesia approach to enable postoperative recovery in gynecological surgeries.

Methods

The study is quantitative and prospective, with a before and after design of an educational intervention (Figure 1). It was carried out only after approval by the Research Ethics Committee (REC) of Universidade Federal de Uberlândia (UFU), with a favorable opinion CAAE: 57830922.5.0000.5152, in the department of gynecology of the Hospital de Clínicas da Universidade Federal de Uberlândia (HCUFU), a regional university hospital managed by Empresa Brasileira de Serviços Hospitalares (EBSERH). The methodology consisted of an educational intervention to medical professionals invited to participate in the study, from the area of gynecology, through scientific meetings that addressed the main recommendations of the ACERTO project in perioperative care for surgical-gynecological patients. The inclusion criteria were gynecologists from the gynecology sector of HCUFU who agreed to participate in the research and signed the informed consent form (ICF). The exclusion criteria were: Not accepting to participate in the research, not signing the ICF, or not belonging to the HCUFU gynecology sector.

Fig. 1
Schematic design of the study.

All teaching gynecologists, residents and preceptors were invited, and only those who voluntarily met the inclusion criteria, participated in the sample. After clarifying the project and signing the ICF, they filled out a knowledge assessment questionnaire of the main recommendations of the ACERTO project (attached). The questionnaire was standardized with 30 questions, 10 of which were YES or NO, 10 with simple justification and 10 multiple-choice, with a completion time of approximately 5 to 10 minutes on knowledge of abbreviation of preoperative fasting, prophylaxis for thromboembolic events, knowledge about multimodal analgesia and surgical metabolism. This questionnaire was approved by the REC of the institution as a data collection instrument, delivered to the participating gynecologists, with confidentiality of the names of the participants, with only the sample number identification for later construction of the database, containing questions about knowledge, applicability, and development of the ACERTO project, as well as the advantages for the patient in the postoperative period and the safety in applying it. The same questionnaire was applied after the educational intervention.

  • -

    Application of the printed questionnaire and delivery to the gynecologists before the educational intervention or preintervention (PRE) phase on the recommendations of the ACERTO project.

  • -

    Educational explanation about the benefits of the ACERTO project parameters to research participants. The educational intervention consisted of monthly meetings of 30 to 40 minutesfor 3 months, with at least 20 minutes of open time for discussions and suggestions to encourage adherence to effective measures to accelerate the patients’ recovery.

  • -

    Application of the printed questionnaire and delivery to the gynecologists after the educational intervention, or postintervention phase (POST), on the recommendations of the ACERTO project (Figure 1).

To calculate the sample size, the following formula was used, described by Fontenelle et al.88 Matthews DR, Hosker JP, Rudenski AS, Naylor BA, Treacher DF, Turner RC. Homeostasis model assessment: insulin resistance and beta-cell function from fasting plasma glucose and insulin concentrations in man. Diabetologia. 1985;28(07):412-419 where: zα/2 = Alpha error value (two-tailed); zβ = Beta error value; s = standard deviation; d = Minimum difference to be detected. The sample size was determined so that it could identify, with 95% confidence (α error = 0.05), a difference, if any, of at least 5 participants between the before and after groups who would possibly adhere or not to the ACERTO project, among the averages. The power of the test was considered to be 80% (error β = 0.20). Therefore, through this calculation, a sample of at least 20 participants from the gynecology department was suggested. This would be the minimum number of participants for the survey not to be terminated. The Chi-square or Fisher test was used to analyze categorical variables. Results were expressed as mean, followed by standard deviation (SD) or mean standard error or median. Data were analyzed using the IBM SPSS Statistics for Windows, version 20.0 software (IBM Corp., Armonk, HY, USA), with license granted to the department of mathematics at UFU. The data were analyzed quantitatively, with data protection, academic secrecy, until the publication of the results, with the objective of evaluating whether the educational intervention proved to be effective in obtaining a significant response regarding the characterization of the scientific knowledge of gynecologists about the ACERTO project derived from of ERAS at HCUFU.

Results

The data analyzed after applying the methodology described above are expressed below. Table 1 shows a homogeneous sample between phases, with a total of 25 participants from 38 professional gynecologists in the department (65.78%), the majority being female, with a mean age of 27 years and less than 5 years since graduation. According to the data in Table 2, there was effectiveness of the educational intervention carried out to promote knowledge of the ACERTO project among the analyzed sample, with a statistically significant difference between the phases of before, or preintervention (PRE), and after, or postintervention (POST). Knowledge was consolidated in the POST phase in relation to the abbreviation of fasting, one of the priority guidelines of the ACERTO project, with clarification that the ingestion of clear liquid, enriched with carbohydrate and protein, without residues, up to 2 hours before surgery, does not predispose to the risk of pulmonary aspiration of gastric contents (Mendelson syndrome).99 Mendelson CL. The aspiration of stomach contents into the lungs during obstetric anesthesia. Am J Obstet Gynecol. 1946;52: 191-205 The effectiveness of the educational intervention was confirmed by the willingness to reproduce and apply knowledge in practice among gynecologists, as analyzed in Table 2.

Table 1
Descriptive Statistics: Demographic data of the sample
Table 2
Knowledge of the ACERTO project and/or Mendelson syndrome and the ability to replicate and apply it in care practice

According to the data in Tables 3 and 4, the educational intervention on prophylaxis recommendations for venous thromboembolism (VTE) aligned with the ACERTO project and ERAS among the evaluated gynecologists. These measures proved to be effective between the PRE and POST phases, both through criteria for mechanical and drug prophylaxis (p = 0.024) as well as encouraging early walking in the postoperative period (p = 0.006).

Table 3
Cited criteria for deep venous thromboembolism prophylaxis in the pre and postintervention phases
Table 4
Comparison of early walking recommendation between the pre and post intervention phases

According to the ACERTO project criteria, multimodal analgesia involves pharmacological and non-pharmacological measures to minimize pain. However, the use of opioids is not recommended due to side effects. According to the data in Table 5, the educational intervention was effective in consolidating this knowledge among the studied sample.

Table 5
Prescription of opioids within multimodal analgesia

The same outcome can be observed in relation to the concept of abbreviation of fasting for solids and liquids PRE and POST intervention, in which gynecologists consolidated with statistical difference the recommendation that fasting for solids can be established for up to 6 hours and for liquids without residues up to 2 hours before surgery (Table 6).

Table 6
Comparison between knowledge of preoperative fasting time for solids and liquids without residues before and after the intervention

Discussion

The results of the present study indicate that the perioperative care recommendations consolidated by the ERAS, despite being published and endorsed by several medical societies, are not always adhered to in practice, as observed in the statements of the questionnaire about such recommendations before a didactic explanation. On the other hand, the efforts to adapt the main recommendations such as abbreviation of preoperative fasting, prophylaxis of VTE, and stimulation of multimodal, as occurred with the ACERTO project, are commendable initiatives to bring evidence-based medicine from practice.11 Aguilar-Nascimento JE. Hit: accelerating full postoperative recovery / José Eduardo de Aguilar- Nascimento; co-editors Alberto Bicudo Salomão, Cervantes Caporossi- 4th ed. Rio de Janeiro: Editora Rubio; 2020, Publisher: RUBIO. ISBN: 978858411133677 Santiago AE, Silva Filho AL, Cândido EB, Ribeiro PA, Rosa e Silva JC, Primo WQ, et al. FEBRASGO POSITION STATEMENT Perioperative management in gynecological surgery based on the ERAS program. Available at www.febrasgo.org. Accessed on March 12, 2022
www.febrasgo.org...
,1010 Boon K, Bislenghi G, D’Hoore A, Boon N, Wolthuis AM. Do older patients (> 80 years) also benefit from ERAS after colorectal resection? A safety and feasibility study. Aging Clin Exp Res. 2021;33(05):1345-1352

In addition to projects adapted to the local reality, efforts to produce scientific discussions, training courses or educational interventions, such as the methodology used in this study, can be effective in disseminating knowledge and adherence to medical approaches such as paradigm shifts. The process of changing behavior occurs progressively with individual response; however, education provides the basis for the security of the practical application of new technologies.88 Matthews DR, Hosker JP, Rudenski AS, Naylor BA, Treacher DF, Turner RC. Homeostasis model assessment: insulin resistance and beta-cell function from fasting plasma glucose and insulin concentrations in man. Diabetologia. 1985;28(07):412-419,99 Mendelson CL. The aspiration of stomach contents into the lungs during obstetric anesthesia. Am J Obstet Gynecol. 1946;52: 191-205,1111 Marquini GV, Jorge MT, Pinto RM. Effectiveness of an educational intervention on the suitability of indications for cesarean delivery in a Brazilian teaching hospital. Int J Gynaecol Obstet. 2015;128 (02):114-117. Doi: 10.1016/j.ijgo.2014.08.011
https://doi.org/10.1016/j.ijgo.2014.08.0...
,1212 Ebner F, Schulz SVW, de Gregorio A, Volz S, Steinacker JM, Janni W, Otto S. Prehabilitation in gynecological surgery? What do gynecologists know and need to know. Arch Gynecol Obstet. 2018;297 (01):27-31 cited 2021Jul17. Doi: 10.1007/s00404-017-4565-8 [Internet]
https://doi.org/10.1007/s00404-017-4565-...
According to recent studies on ERAS recommendations, barriers to implementation were analyzed, and the authors concluded that successful implementation requires a multidisciplinary team, a willingness to change, and a clear understanding of the protocol. Additionally, the difficulty in accomplishing necessary compliance to all protocol items calls for new implementation strategies, such as educational intervention.1111 Marquini GV, Jorge MT, Pinto RM. Effectiveness of an educational intervention on the suitability of indications for cesarean delivery in a Brazilian teaching hospital. Int J Gynaecol Obstet. 2015;128 (02):114-117. Doi: 10.1016/j.ijgo.2014.08.011
https://doi.org/10.1016/j.ijgo.2014.08.0...
1313 Pędziwiatr M, Mavrikis J, Witowski J, Adamos A, Major P, Nowakowski M, Budzyński A, et al. Current status of enhanced recovery after surgery (ERAS) protocol in gastrointestinal surgery. Med Oncol. 2018;35(06):95. Doi: 10.1007/s12032-018-1153-0
https://doi.org/10.1007/s12032-018-1153-...

In perioperative care, an educational intervention provided greater knowledge and possible adherence to measures, such as abbreviation of preoperative fasting.11 Aguilar-Nascimento JE. Hit: accelerating full postoperative recovery / José Eduardo de Aguilar- Nascimento; co-editors Alberto Bicudo Salomão, Cervantes Caporossi- 4th ed. Rio de Janeiro: Editora Rubio; 2020, Publisher: RUBIO. ISBN: 9788584111336 This measure promotes a positive modulation of insulin resistance, with a lower risk of rebound hyperglycemia in the postoperative period, with a lower chance of complications derived from a diabetogenic state provided by prolonged fasting.1212 Ebner F, Schulz SVW, de Gregorio A, Volz S, Steinacker JM, Janni W, Otto S. Prehabilitation in gynecological surgery? What do gynecologists know and need to know. Arch Gynecol Obstet. 2018;297 (01):27-31 cited 2021Jul17. Doi: 10.1007/s00404-017-4565-8 [Internet]
https://doi.org/10.1007/s00404-017-4565-...
1515 Marquini GV, Pinheiro FES, Vieira AUC, Pinto RMC, Uyeda MGBK, Girão MJBC, Sartori MGF. Effects of preoperative fasting abbreviation with carbohydrate and protein solution on postoperative symptoms of gynecological surgeries: double-blind randomized controlled clinical trial. Rev Col Bras Cir. 2020;46(05):e20192295 Other authors have already demonstrated the positive modulation of trauma response metabolism by ingestion of clear liquid enriched with carbohydrate (ERAS) and added protein (ACERTO) up to 2 hours before gynecological surgery, without putting the patient at risk of pulmonary aspiration.99 Mendelson CL. The aspiration of stomach contents into the lungs during obstetric anesthesia. Am J Obstet Gynecol. 1946;52: 191-205,1212 Ebner F, Schulz SVW, de Gregorio A, Volz S, Steinacker JM, Janni W, Otto S. Prehabilitation in gynecological surgery? What do gynecologists know and need to know. Arch Gynecol Obstet. 2018;297 (01):27-31 cited 2021Jul17. Doi: 10.1007/s00404-017-4565-8 [Internet]
https://doi.org/10.1007/s00404-017-4565-...
1919 Ljungqvist O, Scott M, Fearon KC. Enhanced Recovery After Surgery: A Review. JAMA Surg. 2017;152(03):292-298 cited 2021Feb15. Doi: 10.1001/jamasurg.2016.4952 [Internet]
https://doi.org/10.1001/jamasurg.2016.49...
The understanding of the physiology of fasting abbreviation in the positive modulation of surgical metabolism favors adherence to this measure.99 Mendelson CL. The aspiration of stomach contents into the lungs during obstetric anesthesia. Am J Obstet Gynecol. 1946;52: 191-205,1212 Ebner F, Schulz SVW, de Gregorio A, Volz S, Steinacker JM, Janni W, Otto S. Prehabilitation in gynecological surgery? What do gynecologists know and need to know. Arch Gynecol Obstet. 2018;297 (01):27-31 cited 2021Jul17. Doi: 10.1007/s00404-017-4565-8 [Internet]
https://doi.org/10.1007/s00404-017-4565-...
1818 Modesitt SC, Sarosiek BM, Trowbridge ER, Redick DL, Shah PM, Thiele RH, et al. Enhanced Recovery Implementation in Major Gynecologic Surgeries: Effect of Care Standardization. Obstet Gynecol. 2016;128(03):457-466

Regarding pain management, the ACERTO project, aligned with ERAS, does not recommend the prescription of intraoperative and postoperative opioid analgesics, due to possible side effects such as drowsiness, dizziness, nausea, vomiting, and even respiratory depression. In addition to these effects being unpleasant for the patient, they make it difficult to approach early refeeding and walking, so encouraged by both projects.1212 Ebner F, Schulz SVW, de Gregorio A, Volz S, Steinacker JM, Janni W, Otto S. Prehabilitation in gynecological surgery? What do gynecologists know and need to know. Arch Gynecol Obstet. 2018;297 (01):27-31 cited 2021Jul17. Doi: 10.1007/s00404-017-4565-8 [Internet]
https://doi.org/10.1007/s00404-017-4565-...
1616 Marquini GV, Pinheiro FEDS, Vieira AUDC, Pinto RMC, Uyeda MGBK, Girão MJBC, Sartori MGF. Preoperative Fasting Abbreviation and its Effects on Postoperative Nausea and Vomiting Incidence in Gynecological Surgery Patients. Rev Bras Ginecol Obstet. 2020;42(08):468-475

The ERAS and ACERTO protocols recommend the standardization of criteria for prescribing mechanical and/or drug prophylaxis according to Caprini's parameters, enshrined in the literature. However, before the educational intervention, such criteria were not established in the choice of antithrombotic therapy for the gynecological patient.2020 Geerts WH, Bergqvist D, Pineo GF, Heit JA, Samama CM, Lassen MR, Colwell CW. Prevention of venous thromboembolism: American College of Chest Physicians Evidence-Based Clinical Practice Guidelines (8th Edition). Chest. 2008;133(6, Suppl)381S-453S,2121 Caprini JA, Arcelus JI, Hasty JH, Tamhane AC, Fabrega F. Clinical assessment of venous thromboembolic risk in surgical patients. Semin Thromb Hemost. 1991;17(Suppl 3):304-312

According to the data from the present study, the educational intervention can be effective in consolidating concepts about antithrombotic therapy in perioperative care, previously not very well established among the sample of gynecologists evaluated. In addition, the simple early ambulation, recommended by the ERAS protocol and the ACERTO project, sometimes, unfortunately, of poor reinforcement in practice, is one of the pillars for the prevention of VTE, one of the most feared surgical complications in surgical procedures.2020 Geerts WH, Bergqvist D, Pineo GF, Heit JA, Samama CM, Lassen MR, Colwell CW. Prevention of venous thromboembolism: American College of Chest Physicians Evidence-Based Clinical Practice Guidelines (8th Edition). Chest. 2008;133(6, Suppl)381S-453S2929 Elias KM, Stone AB, McGinigle K, Tankou JI, Scott MJ, Fawcett WJ, et al; ERAS® Society and ERAS® USA. The Reporting on ERAS Compliance, Outcomes, and Elements Research (RECOvER) Checklist: A Joint Statement by the ERAS® and ERAS® USA Societies. World J Surg. 2019;43(01):1-8

In university hospitals with standardized management, where basic measures of the recommendations of the ACERTO project were implemented, the process took place in an educational way, with the adherence of professionals after scientific knowledge of the solid, practical and reliable bases of the ACERTO project, with satisfactory results both as an improvement in the assistance such as resource optimization.11 Aguilar-Nascimento JE. Hit: accelerating full postoperative recovery / José Eduardo de Aguilar- Nascimento; co-editors Alberto Bicudo Salomão, Cervantes Caporossi- 4th ed. Rio de Janeiro: Editora Rubio; 2020, Publisher: RUBIO. ISBN: 9788584111336 In Latin America, these data were observed at Hospital Universitário Júlio Muller of Universidade Federal do Mato Grosso and Hospital de São Paulo of Escola Paulista de Medicina, among others.11 Aguilar-Nascimento JE. Hit: accelerating full postoperative recovery / José Eduardo de Aguilar- Nascimento; co-editors Alberto Bicudo Salomão, Cervantes Caporossi- 4th ed. Rio de Janeiro: Editora Rubio; 2020, Publisher: RUBIO. ISBN: 9788584111336

Challenges to the ERAS implementation may be encountered in other countries, regardless of the level of socioeconomic development. Health services from Canada, point out that the development of training sessions for health care professionals across the continuum of care (preoperative and admissions, operating room and postanesthesia care unit, and postoperative care) and the encouragement of their feedback can start an ERAS program.3030 Altman AD, Helpman L, McGee J, Samouëlian V, Auclair MH, Brar H, Nelson GS, et al; Society of Gynecologic Oncology of Canada’s Communities of Practice in ERAS and Venous Thromboembolism. Enhanced recovery after surgery: implementing a new standard of surgical care. CMAJ. 2019;191(17):E469-E475. Doi: 10.1503/cmaj.180635
https://doi.org/10.1503/cmaj.180635...

The authors point out that the initial results remain under follow-up to assess the long-term adherence to the perioperative measures discussed and accepted by the majority of the body of gynecologists.

The positive point of the present study refers to the most recommended topic of perioperative care according to evidence-based medicine, with a methodologically rigorous, prospective study of practical analysis of adherence to these recommendations. In addition, it demonstrates a possibility of reproducibility that is easy to perform in any hospital care service to optimize surgical results and reduce hospitalization time and consequent hospital costs. Educational intervention can be the basis for the practical application of evidence-based medicine. Taking standardized scientific knowledge of measures such as abbreviation of preoperative fasting, pulmonary thromboembolism (PTE prophylaxis, and multimodal analgesia to the professional who is in the service practice can make a difference in the quality of hospital care.

Another positive point was the approval of the project by the hospital management where the study was carried out with financial and scientific support to serve as a pilot for other areas in order to reduce complications, optimize hospitalizations and reduce hospital costs.

The main difficulty in the project was recruiting the sample, as these are professional gynecologists with a workload who showed up for meetings during off-duty hours, which limited the sample size. However, the authors believe that this fact was overcome due to the engagement of voluntary, spontaneous participants, without recruitment or call, favoring the execution of the project within the sufficient number of sample according to the initial statistical calculation. Thus, the educational intervention methodology can be stimulated and reproduced in other hospital services with the expectation of favorable results, as in the present study.

Conclusion

Educational intervention for gynecology professionals can consolidate scientific concepts of perioperative care endorsed by medical societies worldwide. This simple, low-cost, and highly reproducible methodology can be encouraged in other hospital services to align evidence-based medicine such as the ERAS-derived ACERTO project, with perioperative care in practice. Therefore, it is concluded that the perioperative recommendations for accelerating the patient's recovery, such as abbreviation of preoperative fasting, multimodal analgesia, and prophylaxis of thrombosis, complement and consolidate, as a fitting, after an educational intervention to an exceptional and humane quality of evidence-based care in gynecological surgery. The authors point out that this educational project, despite addressing a set of standardized perioperative recommendations, does not overcome the individualized decision of conduct based on the free exercise of medicine.

Acknowledgments

The authors would like to thank the Scientific Initiation Scholarship Program of the Brazilian Company of Hospital Services (EBSERH) at Universidade Federal de Uberlandia. They would also like to thank all professionals from the department of gynecology at the EBSERH, especially Prof. Dr. Camila Toffoli, PhD (UFU) for her willingness to collaborate for the realization of the project. This study was presented at two national congresses of gynecology and obstetrics of the Brazilian Federation of Gynecology and Obstetrics (FEBRASGO), the Society of Gynecology and Obstetrics of Minas Gerais (SOGIMIG), in Belo Horizonte, from May 11 to 14, 2022, and the Society of Gynecology and Obstetrics of São Paulo (SOGESP), from August 11 to 13, 2022, through the selection of the best papers. This project received the support from the EBSERH of the Hospital das Clínicas da Universidade Federal de Uberlândia, MG, Brazil, awarded to the first author, Juliana Marques Marra. The authors are grateful for this opportunity and appreciate the help.

References

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Publication Dates

  • Publication in this collection
    18 Dec 2023
  • Date of issue
    2023

History

  • Received
    23 Jan 2023
  • Accepted
    12 June 2023
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